ENROLLED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 6
BY REPRESENTATIVE ECHOLS
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Department of Children and Family Services to develop data sharing
agreements with the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Louisiana Lottery
Corporation to facilitate identification of winners of substantial lottery or gambling
winnings who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
WHEREAS, the program formerly known as "food stamps" was renamed the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 2008; and
WHEREAS, SNAP, which is administered at the state level by the Louisiana
Department of Children and Family Services, is the largest of all federal food assistance
programs and provides support to needy households and to those making the transition from
welfare to work; and
WHEREAS, in January of 2021, nine hundred eighty-one thousand seven hundred
fifty-one individuals received nutrition assistance benefits through Louisiana's SNAP
program; and
WHEREAS, because SNAP is a means-tested assistance program, applicants must
meet its income eligibility requirements in order to qualify for program benefits; and
WHEREAS, leaders at the Department of Children and Family Services and the
Louisiana Gaming Control Board have previously endeavored to develop a data-sharing
agreement which would facilitate the identification of gaming winners who are receiving
SNAP benefits, but have not yet been successful in perfecting and executing such an
agreement; and
WHEREAS, with respect to administration of public assistance programs, the term
"program integrity" refers to actions by the administering agency to detect and prevent fraud,
waste, and abuse in those programs, and thereby ensure that public dollars are expended only
on assistance and services for people who are eligible for benefits provided through those
programs; and
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WHEREAS, the identification of lottery and other gaming winners who are receiving
SNAP benefits would enhance SNAP program integrity functions of the Department of
Children and Family Services.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Children and
Family Services to develop data sharing agreements with the Louisiana Gaming Control
Board and the Louisiana Lottery Corporation which would facilitate checking of data at a
minimum frequency, which shall be at least monthly, for identification of winners of
substantial lottery or gambling winnings, as provided in 7 CFR 273.11(r), who receive
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, the president and chief
executive officer of the Louisiana Lottery Corporation, and the chairman of the Louisiana
Gaming Control Board.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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